This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Basketball series.
Seven games on the Sunday NBA schedule with plenty of good values around which to build DFS teams. Let's jump in.
GUARD
Elfrid Payton, ORL vs. ATL ($27) - There aren't many players who can stuff a stat sheet like Payton. He has been especially good lately, scoring more than 29 fantasy points in eight of his last nine games. In his last 12, he averaged 14.7 points, 6.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 steals -- fantastic numbers for a player at his price. And his downside is low because he can create his own shot and get to the rim, instead of relying soley on his jump shot. This is a good matchup for Payton as well, as the Hawks rank in the bottom eight in rebounds, assists and steals allowed to point guards this season.
Michael Carter-Williams, MIL at PHX ($23) - Carter-Williams has played some great ball since being inserted into the starting five just last week. He is averaging about 36 fantasy points a game over his last four games and has scored at least 30 fantasy points in six of his last eight games. The matchup is good, too, as the Suns rank in the bottom five in fantasy points allowed to point guards this season and play at one of the fastest paces in the NBA, which suits Carter-Williams style perfectly.
Jameer Nelson, DEN vs. NOP ($12) - Nelson is starting at point guard with the injury to Emmanuel Mudiay and is playing brilliantly. He has scored at least 23 fantasy points in five straight games, averaging just shy of 30 fantasy points a game in that span. Obviously an absurd value for a $12 player. What's even crazier about this price is the matchup, as the Pelicans are one of the three worst defenses in the NBA. Must-play is an overused phrase in the fantasy industry, but this is as close as it gets.
Guard to Avoid:
Damian Lillard, POR at MIA ($48) - With so many good values, let's just stay away from the highest-priced guard. Lillard has struggled a bit lately, as he's only surpassed 40 fantasy points twice in his last eight games. That's simply not good enough for a $48 player. What's worse, he faces a top-3 defense in the Miami Heat, who rank second in the NBA in fantasy points allowed to point guards. Lillard very well may score 50 fantasy points, but even if he does, that's still an even value for his price, so let's just fade him.
FORWARD:
Tobias Harris, ORL vs. ATL ($26) - Harris has been incredibly inconsistent this season, but it's lowered his price to a reasonable value. He is coming off one of his best games of the season, in which he tallied 25 points and 12 rebounds en route to a 49-point fantasy outing Friday. Aside from a horrendous game in a blowout to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Harris has averaged about 34 fantasy points a game in his last five. The Hawks aren't a scary matchup either, as they rank in the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to small forwards in their last 10 games.
Kenneth Faried, DEN vs. NOP ($26) - Faried struggled in his last game against a stifling Jazz frontcourt, but has been great aside from that. He scored more than 26 fantasy points a game in six consecutive prior to that stinker. Not only do the Pelicans play some of the worst defense in the league, they play at an up-tempo pace of which Faried thrives. The Pelicans rank in the bottom eight in rebounds allowed to power forwards and in the bottom five in fantasy points allowed to power forwards over their last 10 games. He should have some simple transition buckets against a bad defense and easily grab double-digit rebounds in an up-tempo game.
Forward to Avoid:
Ryan Anderson, NOP at DEN ($27) - Relying on players who get most of their production through jumpers is risky, especially when his playing time is in question. Anderson played just 21 minutes in his last game and trade rumors have swirled around him the last week or so. That's a good time to stay away from a player in DFS, especially when his price is this high. He has scored 25 fantasy points or fewer in five of his last nine while averaging less than 24 fantasy points a game in that span. The matchup is solid, but the price is too high to trust him.
CENTER
Bismack Biyombo, TOR vs. SAC ($14) - Since taking over the starting center role, Biyombo has been fantastic. His last few games have been particularly amazing, as he's scored 97.2 fantasy points in that span. Almost all of that production has come through rebounds and blocks and that makes him incredibly efficient. The only times he doesn't receive a full complement of minutes are against small-ball teams, and that shouldn't be a problem Sunday against a Kings team full of bigs. Not only is the Kings' pace the third fastest in the NBA, they rank in the bottom five in rebounds and blocks allowed to centers this season. A $14 player with this kind of potential is nearly impossible to find and makes Biyombo a fantastic play.
Center to Avoid:
DeMarcus Cousins, SAC at TOR ($51) - Cousins is a fantastic player, but this price is just too high. Cousins hasn't surpassed 50 fantasy points in seven straight games and has averaged less than 39 fantasy points a game in that span. That's a terrible return on investment for a player north of $50, and it's likely due to his usage. Rajon Rondo and Rudy Gay have been handling the ball more in this offense, and it's simply lowered Cousins fantasy value this season. Not to mention, his opponent Sunday ranks in the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to centers in the last 10 games.
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